Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A Premium Premium Travel Card - NerdWallet (2023)

For avid travelers whoChase Sapphire Reserve®is a good deal - even with his$550Annual fee.

With features like a $300 annual travel credit and bonus rewards that carry over 1:1 to multiple loyalty programs, it stands out as one of the best premium travel cards available.

However, in order to receive the card's highest rewards rate, you must make purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, which may be limiting. And while the card offers excellent overall value for those who spend heavily on travel and food, another travel card might be a better fit if you can't take advantage of niche perks.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Basics

Signup Bonus:Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. That's $900 in trips when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Annual fee:$550.

Ongoing Rewards:

Fees for foreign transactions:none.

Other advantages:

How much is a point worth?

Chase Ultimate Rewards® pointsPoints earned from this card are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel booked through Chase. Cardholders can also earn more value per point by transferring them to Chase's airline and hotel partners.

Otherwise, points are worth less when redeemed for cashback, gift cards, and merchandise.

advantages ofChase Sapphire Reserve®

Big signup bonus

TheChase Sapphire Reserve®offers the following generous sign-up bonus:Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. That's $900 in trips when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.In many cases, this is enough for an international return flight.

bonus rewards

owner ofChase Sapphire Reserve®can earn:

Travel and dining related purchases made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal earn you the highest reward rates, which are lucrative for those who spend heavily in these categories.

And even for travel and dining purchases not made through the issuer, cardholders receive bonus rewards.

Additionally, when you redeem these points for travel through Chase, they're worth an increased 1.5 cents, giving the card an impressive 4.5% effective reward rate in these popular categories. This is a boon for people who spend heavily in these areas - in the US and around the world.

Additionally, through March 2025, you can earn a total of 10 points per $1 spent on Lyft (7 points per dollar on Lyft plus 3 points per dollar on travel). That's one of the highest earning rates you'll find for ridesharing with a credit card.

Travel invoice credit up to $300

While many premium cards offer airline fee credit for bag fees and other select purchases, travel credit of up to $300 is available on theChase Sapphire Reserve®cover upmuch wider range of travel purchases, including taxi rides, campsite fees and train tickets.

Since this credit is applied automatically, you can use it effortlessly. Use this card to pay for a $20 Uber ride and — phew! — This travel credit is immediately booked on your credit card statement.

Airport lounge access and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS refund

With theChase Sapphire Reserve®, you could spend your next stay in an exclusive lounge with a complimentary cocktail in hand. The card comes with a Priority Pass Select membership with access to over 1,000 international airport lounges and dining creditsselected airport restaurants and bars.

With a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS card refund, you can also get through security faster and get to those fancy lounges a little earlier. The card offers a refund of the TSA PreCheck ($78) or Global Entry ($100) or NEXUS ($50) application fee every four years.

Transferpartner

With theChase Sapphire Reserve®, you can move points to multiple other loyalty programs at a 1:1 ratio. Transferring and strategically redeeming points can be incredibly lucrative. NerdWallet counts the points earned on this cardmore than 1.5 cents per pointwhen transferred to some partners.

Here are Chase's transfer partners:

Complementary Maps

Like a handful of other Chase cards, theChase Sapphire Reserve®earns Ultimate Rewards® points. That means if you already have another card in the Ultimate Rewards® family, you can usually transfer points to yoursChase Sapphire Reserve®, which may allow you to get more value on the points earned.

Say you already have themFollow Freedom Unlimited®, which earns at least 1.5% cashback on purchases, but does not have 1:1 transfer partners and bonuses when redeeming for trips through Chase. When you log into your Chase account, you will have the option to transfer rewards earned on that card to yoursChase Sapphire Reserve®, where you can then transfer them to partners or book trips for 1.5 cents per point. This could effectively boost your premium rateFollow Freedom Unlimited®to 2.25% or more.

Saphir Reserve vs. Saphir bevorzugt

If you look at themChase Sapphire Reserve®, you might also have your eye on its more affordable sibling, theChase Sapphire Preferred® Karte. This card has an annual fee of$95, but lacks the same rich benefits.

Which card is the better offer for you depends on your expenses. For frequent travelers is theChase Sapphire Reserve®offers far more long-term value. TheChase Sapphire Preferred® Karteis a better choice for those who don't plan to use as many perks but still want a big sign-up bonus and increased point values.

Why you might want a different map

limit rewards

Although theChase Sapphire Reserve®offers competitive reward rates for dining and travel expenses, you only get the highest reward rate when you shop through the Chase portal. This can severely limit your options.

Which restaurants are available to you via the Chase Dining portal depends on your location, for example. This means that cardholders based in larger cities such as New York have more options than those based in smaller areas.

To receive the 10x and 5x card for travel-related expenses, you must also book through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal, which can prove limiting compared to buying flights or renting a car directly.

Also, if you don't spend a lot of money in any of the card's bonus categories, travel and food, you won't get much use from the card. OtherCash Back Credit Cardthat offers more diverse and flexible reward options would be more appropriate.

Limited lounge selection

If your destination airport doesn't have a Priority Pass lounge, you're missing out on an important advantageChase Sapphire Reserve®. A better option might beDie Platinum Card® von American Express.

With an annual fee more or less comparable to that on theChase Sapphire Reserve®, this card offers much wider coverage of airport lounges, as well as many other premium benefits. In addition to granting cardholders Priority Pass Select coverage (once you've signed up), the card also offers access to several other lounge networks, including AmEx-owned Centurion lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (for people who book on the same day fly with Delta). Note, however, that Priority Pass Select coverage on this map is unlike theChase Sapphire Reserve®. The card also offers several other premium benefits and credits, including up to $200 in Uber Cash to use toward free Uber rides in the US (up to $15 per month plus a $20 bonus in December). There is also a great welcome offer.

High annual fee

If the$550fee on theChase Sapphire Reserve®is too rich for your blood - even with all its great benefits - look for the less expensive oneChase Sapphire Preferred® Karteinstead of this.

As already mentioned, theChase Sapphire Preferred® Kartehas an annual fee of$95. It has the same 1:1 transfer partners as themChase Sapphire Reserve®and a similarly robust sign-up bonus:Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. That's $750 in trips when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.Although it lacks the flashy perks like the $300 travel credit, it's ideal for people looking for a versatile travel card at a lower price. Check out NerdWalletbest credit card offersto see how these cards stack up.

Is theChase Sapphire Reserve®the right thing for you?

expenditure$550A year on a credit card is a big deal - and in that case, probably not worth it unless you're a frequent traveler. But if you fly often and can take advantage of the card's many benefits, theChase Sapphire Reserve®is worth every penny.